The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and Senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has firmly rejected calls to contest the 2027 presidential election.
A coalition of 40 northern youth groups under the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) had urged Kalu to run for president, suggesting either Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, or Adamawa State Governor, Umar Fintiri, as his running mate. The forum made the call after a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where they named him their patron.
NYLF President, Comrade Eliot Afiyo, listed the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as their preferred presidential candidates for 2027, alongside the two governors as potential running mates.
However, in a statement released on Thursday by his media office and signed by George Maduka, Kalu dissociated himself from any presidential ambition. He reaffirmed his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, warning against distractions from the opposition.
“There is no disagreement within the APC regarding the 2027 presidential candidate. The President needs encouragement to continue his economic reforms,” Kalu stated, urging opposition parties to focus on their political affairs and refrain from drawing him into their agendas.
The former Abia State governor emphasized his unwavering support for President Tinubu, stating that long-term stability and economic progress require Tinubu’s full eight-year tenure.
“Kalu is a strong believer in Tinubu’s economic reforms. He knows that to sustain them, there must be focus on stability, inclusivity, and adaptability. The President needs the maximum eight years to achieve this,” the statement read.
Kalu further highlighted his long-standing friendship with Tinubu, dating back to their tenure as governors in 1999. He stressed that no Nigerian leader has demonstrated the courage to tackle the country’s economic challenges like Tinubu and called on Nigerians to support his re-election.
“Kalu believes that Nigeria’s prosperity depends on a successful reform. Since Tinubu has taken the bull by the horns, the best Nigerians can do is to encourage him and re-elect him in 2027 to complete the good work he has started,” the statement concluded.